ISSN-0034-7744 Volume 62 (3) • September, 2014 • Volumen 62 (3) • Setiembre, 2014 San José, Costa Rica • www.biologiatropical.ucr.ac.cr Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) 50 years / 50 años In 2014 the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, Costa Rica Program, celebrates 50 years. Our journal dedicates this issue to the Program and includes a dossier of representative short articles produced by ACM students based on their field research. En el 2014 el Programa de Costa Rica de la Associated Colleges of the Midwest, celebra sus 50 años. Nuestra revista le dedica este número al Programa e incluye un dossier de artículos cortos representativos que produjeron estudiantes de la ACM basados en sus investigaciones de campo. Telefax (506) 2511-5550 • (506) 2511-8982 [email protected] • www.ots.ac.cr/tropiweb • www.biologia.ucr.ac.cr/rbt/ Revista de Biología Tropical • Universidad de Costa Rica • 11501-2060 San José, Costa Rica Graphic Editor / Editor Gráfico: Sergio Aguilar Mora Development Editor / Editor de Desarrollo: Alonso Prendas Vega Cover photograph / Fotografía de portada: Some of the many students who did fieldwork in Costa Rica. Background photo: (Upper) ChristopherVaughan; (Lower) Field Research in the Environment, Social Sciences, & Humanities (Staff and Students of Spring 2013). 1. Michael McCoy. 2. Amanda Cormier. 3. Lauren Carlson. 4. Nicole Nemeth. 5. Jonathan Henn. 6. Kathleen Shea. 7. Shasta Webb. 8. Peggy Barlett. 9. Victoria Egedus. 10. Judith Magnan. 11. Mark Myers. 12. Emma Cornwell. 13. John Seng. 14. Ken Salazar. 15. Jeffrey Nadel. Photographs courtesy of ACM. Algunos de los muchos estudiantes que han realizado trabajo de campo en Costa Rica. Foto de fondo: (Superior) Christo- pher Vaughan; (Inferior) Investigaciones de Campo en el Ambiente, las Ciencias Sociales & las Humanidades (personal y estudiantes de la primavera de 2013). 1. Michael McCoy. 2. Amanda Cormier. 3. Lauren Carlson. 4. Nicole Nemeth. 5. Jonathan Henn. 6. Kathleen Shea. 7. Shasta Webb. 8. Peggy Barlett. 9. Victoria Egedus. 10. Judith Magnan. 11. Mark My- ers. 12. Emma Cornwell. 13. John Seng. 14. Ken Salazar. 15. Jeffrey Nadel. Fotografías cortesía de ACM. 574.05 R Revista de Biología Tropical / Universidad de Costa Rica. ––Vol. 1 (1953)– . –– San José, C. R. : Editorial Universidad de Costa Rica, 1953– v. ISSN–0034–7744 1. Biología – Publicaciones periódicas, 2. Publicaciones periódicas costarricenses. BUCR Attribution (BY - NC - ND) • (BY) You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). • (NC) You may not use this work for commercial purposes. • (ND) You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. OPEN Reconocimiento (BY - NC - ND) • (BY) Debe atribuir el trabajo de la manera especificada por el autor o el licenciador ACCESS (pero no de manera que sugiera que tiene la aprobación para el uso del trabajo). • (NC) No puede utilizar esta obra para fines comerciales. • (ND) Usted no puede alterar, transformar, o ampliar este trabajo. Edición aprobada por la Comisión Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica © Editorial Universidad de Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, Costa Rica. Apdo. 11501-2060 • Tel.: 2511-5310 • Fax: 2511-5257 E-mail: [email protected] • Página web: www.editorial.ucr.ac.cr Prohibida la reproducción total o parcial salvo normas Open Access. Todos los derechos reservados. Hecho el depósito de ley. Over the past fifty years, the ACM Costa Rica program has influenced the lives of many students. Due to space limitations, we cite only one example: “In 1975, I participated in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Pro- gram in Costa Rica. The experience shaped much of my future including a deep interest in Latin America. Many times in the United States Senate and at the White House, I have spoken with Presidents and Senators about the imperative of strong mutually supportive relationships with Central and South America. I am rooted in this view in part because of the ACM program and my study of President Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress. I believe the future of the United States, and Latin America, are inextricably tied together because of our shared history and shared demographics.” Ken Salazar, JD Partner in the law firm WilmerHale. Secretary of the Interior of the United States, 2009- 2013. U.S. Senator for Colorado, 2005-2009. Attorney General of Colorado, 1999-2005. Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, 1990-1994. Chief legal counsel to the Governor of Colorado, 1986-1990. PREFACE Fifty years of undergraduate scientific field research in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Costa Rica program Christopher Vaughan1,2, Judith Magnan1 & Michael B. McCoy1 1. Associated Colleges of the Midwest, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica; [email protected] 2. Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; [email protected] The importance of preparing students for Olaf Colleges and Lawrence University, was global citizenship and the development of joined by Macalester and Colorado Colleges intercultural competency in an increasingly in 1967, Lake Forest College in 1974, the Rica program Costa Special section (ACM) interdependent world has long been recog- College of the University of Chicago between nized by many higher education institutions 1988 and 2008, and Luther College in 2009 in the United States. Experiential learning (ACM 2013a). ACM currently has 13 member through study abroad is one means of achiev- colleges and one university from five states ing this goal (Brewer & Cunningham, 2010). and administers 16 study abroad programs For decades, Costa Rica has offered a stable, in 11 countries. welcoming and culturally rich environment for Initial consortial goals for joint action study abroad programs. focused on the educational effectiveness, effi- For undergraduate students interested ciency of administrative and cultural opera- in pursuing further studies and academic or tions, and development of additional sources of research careers, the opportunity to develop revenue of the member colleges and university. field research skills is a valuable tool. To carry In 2013, ACM´s mission is to strengthen its out professionally guided research with the members as leaders in liberal arts education cultural and linguistic preparation afforded by through joint efforts to improve the profes- study abroad not only provides students with sional effectiveness of faculty and administra- academic and cultural development, but it may tive leaders, to provide exemplary liberal arts enable them to make a significant contribution learning through off-campus studies, and to to the host country. promote excellence in teaching and learning through collaboration (ACM 2013b). HISTORY OF THE ACM COSTA RICA PROGRAM ACM Costa Rica Program ACM Consortium In 1963, in response to a growing inter- est in curricular development through foreign In 1958, 10 liberal arts colleges of the study and research, and after considering other Midwestern United States formed the Associat- potential Central American sites, ACM created ed Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) to promote the Central American Field Studies Program institutional collaboration and the achievement in San José, Costa Rica. The program was of common objectives. The founding group, designed to provide participants with experi- comprised of Beloit, Carleton, Coe, Cornell, ence in scientific field studies in preparation Grinnell, Knox, Monmouth, Ripon, and St. for careers related to the tropical environment Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 62 (3): 843-858, September 2014 843 and to allow ACM faculty to develop research When external program funding ended interests in Latin American studies. The result- in 1967, the relationship with the TSC ended, ing field research projects would contribute to although Hunter continued to serve as director. the growing knowledge of the tropical environ- Language was incorporated into the curriculum ment and to teaching materials in anthropol- and students were housed with Costa Rican ogy, biology, economics, geography, geology, families, facilitating greater cultural integration. and sociology. The program did not expand to other ACM designated the non-profit research Central American countries as was initially and teaching organization, the Tropical Sci- planned, and in 1970, was renamed the Costa ence Center (TSC), founded in 1962 by tropi- Rican Development Studies Program. In 1974, cal ecologist Leslie R. Holdridge, geographer under the direction of anthropologist Ridgeway Satterthwaite, the focus of the fall semester Joseph A. Tosi, and tropical biologist J. Robert changed to “Studies in Latin American Culture Hunter to administer the program. Dr. Hunter and Society,” leaving field research exclusively was named program director. The initial plans for the spring. In 1977, the field study semester for the program were broadened to include became the Tropical Field Research Program implementing independent study and research (ACM 2013c; Dennis, 1989). throughout Central America, and develop- In the late 1970´s, ACM developed a ing a relationship with the Consejo Supe- relationship with the University of Costa Rica rior Universitario Centroamericano (CSUCA). (UCR) that led to the signing of a legal agree- The first group of students began the pro- ment between the two institutions. There are gram in